Vic Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vic Cathedral |
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| Cathedral of St. Peter of Vic | |
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Catalan: Catedral de Vic
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Vic Cathedral, overview from the river, with the neoclassical apse and the Romanesque bell tower; to the left, the Romanesque bridge.
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| Location | Vic, Catalonia, Spain |
| Country |  Spain |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral, minor basilica |
| Consecrated | 1038 and September 15, 1803 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Josep Moretó i Codina |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Romanesque, Gothic, Neoclassical |
| Groundbreaking | September 24, 1781 |
| Completed | 1803 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Marble, brick |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Vic |
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The Vic Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle) is a large Roman Catholic church in Vic, Catalonia, Spain. It is the main church for the Diocese of Vic. This amazing building shows off a mix of different styles. You can see parts that are Romanesque, Gothic, and Neoclassical.
Contents
History of Vic Cathedral
Early Churches in Vic
We don't know exactly where the very first churches in Vic stood. But we do know that a cathedral existed here as early as the year 516. This early church was likely destroyed around 717-718 during an Arab invasion.
Later, in 886, a simple church was built. This happened when Count Wilfred the Hairy helped people move back to the area. He also brought back the bishopric, which is the area a bishop looks after.
In the 10th century, the Christian area became safer. So, the cathedral was rebuilt using stone. It had three main sections (naves) and two smaller churches next to it. These were dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Michael.
The Cathedral Built by Oliba
About a hundred years later, Bishop Abat Oliba rebuilt the cathedral again. This time, it was in a grand Romanesque style. It was officially opened in 1038.
From this Romanesque period, only the tall bell tower and the crypt remain today. The bell tower is 46 meters (about 150 feet) high. The crypt is special because it has old stone carvings (capitals) that might be from the 10th-century church. You can also see some old sculptures from the Romanesque entrance and cloister at the Episcopal Museum of Vic.
Two hundred years later, the building needed repairs. In the 14th century, a beautiful upper cloister was added, starting in 1318. A main altarpiece made of alabaster was finished in 1428 by Pere Oller. Both of these can still be seen in the cathedral today. Later, in 1401, a transept (the part that crosses the main body of the church) was added. In 1585, the Saint John door was opened on the north side.
Santa Maria la Rodona
For many centuries, there was a unique round church called Santa Maria la Rodona. It was built next to the cathedral. Bishops would even celebrate special Christmas services there.
This round church was rebuilt many times. The last major rebuild was in 1140. However, it was taken down in 1787 to make space for the new cathedral. Today, you can see marks on the pavement in the Cathedral Square. These marks show where its foundations used to be.
The Cathedral We See Today
The construction of the current cathedral began on September 24, 1781. It was officially opened on September 15, 1803. The design was by Josep Moretó i Codina, an architect from Vic. He designed it in a Neoclassical style.
In 1891, the Episcopal Museum of Vic opened on the upper floor of the cathedral's cloister.
The 19th century was a difficult time for the cathedral. In the 20th century, a famous artist named Josep Maria Sert was asked to paint the large, empty walls inside. He finished his first set of paintings in 1930. In 1931, the cathedral was declared a Historic Artistic Monument.
Sadly, in 1936, at the start of the Spanish Civil War, the cathedral was damaged. Most of the ceiling collapsed. After the war, repair work began. Josep Maria Sert repainted the walls. The cathedral reopened in 1945.
Architecture of Vic Cathedral
The cathedral has a serious and formal Neoclassical look. It uses styles like Doric and Tuscan. The front of the building, called the facade, is made of white stone. It has a decorative railing at the top.
The facade was part of the 1803 redesign. It features a central round window, called a rosette, which has older Romanesque decorations. There are three entrances, one for each of the three main sections (naves) inside. The central entrance is the most decorated. It has columns and a triangular top, with a sculpture of Saint Peter, who is the patron saint of the church.
Inside the Cathedral
Inside, the cathedral has three sections (naves) that are all the same height. They are separated by tall columns. There's a clear transept, which is the part that crosses the main body of the church. The ceiling is rounded, and there's a dome where the transept crosses the main nave. The back part of the church, called the apse, has many sides. The side naves have two chapels under each arch.
Paintings by Josep Maria Sert
In the early 20th century, the large white walls inside the cathedral needed decoration. The Catalan painter Josep Maria Sert was chosen for this big job. He worked on the paintings between 1926 and 1930.
His first set of paintings was destroyed in the 1936 conflict. After the war, Josep Maria Sert created a new set of paintings between 1939 and 1945. He passed away before finishing the very last ones, so his students completed them in his style. The second set of paintings uses fewer bright colors.
These are huge paintings on canvases placed on the cathedral walls. Sert's style is very unique. He uses large, strong figures and lots of contrast between light and shadow. The paintings are almost one color, mostly golden, brown, and earthy tones, with some red. This creates a feeling of great depth.
The paintings tell a story about redemption. In the apse, you can see the crucifixion of Jesus, along with scenes of his burial and ascension. Other paintings show the story of Adam and Eve. On the arches of the side chapels, there are scenes of apostles and evangelists. At the front of the cathedral, paintings show Jesus removing merchants from the temple and carrying the cross.
Main Altarpiece
The main altarpiece is made of alabaster. It was created between 1420 and 1427 by Pere Oller. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Peter. This beautiful piece of art was given to the cathedral in the early 15th century.
Chapels
On the north side of the cathedral, there are several chapels built in the Baroque style. These were part of a plan from the early 17th century for a new cathedral.
One special chapel is the chapel of Sant Bernat Calbó. It is located under the bell tower. Saint Bernat Calbó was a bishop of Vic from 1233 to 1243. His body rests in a large silver-plated box. This box was made by the goldsmith Joan Matons between 1700 and 1728.
In the chapel of the Virgin of Montserrat, you can find the tomb of Bishop Josep Torras i Bages. There is also a sculpture of a dead Christ by Josep Llimona i Bruguera.
Crypt
The crypt is the oldest part of the cathedral. It dates back to the Romanesque cathedral that was opened in 1038. The stone carvings (capitals) in the crypt are even older. They were likely reused from the ancient pre-Romanesque cathedral.
Cloister
The cloister is a beautiful courtyard with walkways. It has two levels. The lower level is Romanesque and dates from the 12th century. The upper level is Gothic and was built in the 14th century.
This cloister is very beautiful. It has a unique walkway with double windows that look both into the cloister and out towards the city. It also has a Gothic door that leads to the chapter room.
The lower cloister opens into the chapter room, which was opened in 1360. It has a rectangular shape with an octagonal ceiling. In the center of the cloister, you will find the grave of the Catalan philosopher Jaume Balmes, who was born in Vic. His statue, made in 1853, was moved to the cloister in 1865.
See also
- Josep Maria Sert
